"This historic
fund-raising effort will generate much of the money needed to put UK on the path to
becoming a top-20 public research institution."

--UK President Charles T.
Wethington Jr.

Aug.
15, 2000  (Lexington, Ky.) The
University of Kentucky will kick off the most ambitious fund-raising campaign in
Kentucky's history Sept. 15 at a festive event on the lawn of the university's
Administration Building.

UK
President Charles T. Wethington Jr. and campaign National Chair James W. Stuckert of
Louisville will join hundreds of UK faculty, students, staff, alumni and friends at the
kickoff event to announce the campaign fund-raising goal.

"This
historic fund-raising effort will generate much of the money needed to put UK on the path
to becoming a top-20 public research institution," Wethington said.

"The
people of Kentucky deserve and support the greatness that UK can attain as a result of
this campaign," Stuckert added."The
state pride it will generate will be felt for many generations to come."

Throughout
the campaign kickoff day, all university colleges
and departments will showcase their academic expertise
for visitors to the campus.The showcases will feature highlights ranging from anthropologist
Tom Dillehay's discovery of the oldest civilization
in this hemisphere and the 25th anniversary
of the UK Art Museum to a close up and personal look
at the world of nuclear magnetic resonance research.

Alumni and friends of UK are encouraged to call their
colleges for a preview of showcase attractions being planned and receive details on
special parking and transportation to the campus planned for visitors attending the event.

Another
highlighted kickoff event is a concert Thursday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. in the Singletary
Center for the Arts.The concert will feature
the Ladies of Note  world-class jazz artists Lainie Kazan, Melba Moore and Nnenna
Freelon  in the premiere performance of the ensembles first-ever national
tour.Kentucky Educational Television will be
taping the concert for broadcast at a later date.Tickets
are $25 each ($10 for students with a valid UK ID) and are available at the UK Student
Center Ticket Office at (859) 257-8427.

A
full schedule of events in the kickoff follows:

Thursday, September 14

8 p.m. Jazz Concert
by Ladies of Note featuring Lainie Kazan, Melba Moore and Nnenna Freelon;
Singletary Center for the Arts. This is the premiere performance as they begin a
national tour.Tickets available through UK
Student Center Ticket Office (859) 257-8427.

Friday, September 15

11:30 a.m. Campaign
Kickoff Luncheon; Administration Building lawn. UK President Charles T. Wethington,
Jr. and members of the campaign national steering committee will formally announce the
Campaign for the University of Kentucky and unveil the official goal, the largest
fund-raising goal in the history of the commonwealth.

1:30 -- 5 p.m. Academic
Showcases

The campus is open to everyone!Visit and participate in nearly 100 events hosted by every college and
program at UK to highlight the academic and research excellence prevalent at the
University.Free and open to the public.

9 a.m.  noon. Academic
Showcases continue in some colleges. Check individual colleges for schedules.
Free and open to the public.

6 p.m. UK vs.
Indiana, Commonwealth Stadium. A spectacular halftime show will feature the campaign
and its theme, A Call To Greatness.Ticket
information through the UK Athletics Association (859) 257-CATS or 1-800-928-CATS.

Sunday, September 17

2 p.m. UK Art Museum
Directors Forum, Singletary Center for the Arts. A celebration of the 25th
anniversary of the exceptional UK Art Museum.Open
to the public.

3 p.m. UK Symphony
Orchestra Concert, Singletary Center for the Arts. Hear the fantastic sound of the
Symphony Orchestra and learn firsthand the level of excellence that abounds at UK.Free and open to the public.